Women Wearing Military Uniforms Instead of Dresses, Elderly Also Stand Against Tanks... Ukrainian Citizens' Resolute Resistance

Ukrainian woman undergoing shooting training
[Photo by AP News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Ukrainian citizens are fiercely resisting to defend their homeland against Russia's invasion.

On the 1st, Yonhap News reported, citing a Korean resident who successfully evacuated to Hungary from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, on the 27th of last month (local time), that "most of the fighting currently involves urban warfare and tank battles," and "the clashes are so intense that corpses are scattered on the ground."

The resident, who is receiving updates on the local situation through other family members and acquaintances remaining in Kyiv, said that civilians are actively confronting the Russian army, adding, "Women lie in ambush and throw 20 to 30 Molotov cocktails at points where Russian tanks appear to set them on fire, and elderly men and women sometimes block tank units, telling them to 'go back.'"

He continued, "The most moving scene was when about 100 to 200 villagers, unarmed, blocked tanks, causing the tanks to turn back," adding, "Because of these kinds of incidents, Russia seems to be facing more difficulties than expected."

Since the outbreak of the war, there have been numerous cases of Ukrainian citizens volunteering to join the military to resist the Russian invasion. Former and current presidents, newlyweds, and others have voluntarily taken up arms, and a Ukrainian woman, formerly a beauty pageant contestant active in Turkey, donned military uniform instead of a dress to fight against the Russian invasion.

Photo by Anastasia Rena Instagram

Anastasia Lena (31), a former Miss Ukraine 2015, posted a photo on Instagram on the 23rd showing herself in combat gear holding a gun.

Before the war, Anastasia worked as a model and PR (public relations) manager, and she was known to enjoy shooting as a sport. She is currently volunteering in the Ukrainian military.

So far, about 35,000 women like Anastasia have volunteered for the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Additionally, ordinary citizens nationwide are reportedly receiving various basic combat training, from handling firearms to making Molotov cocktails and throwing grenades. Volunteer soldiers wear clothes with yellow armbands to indicate their volunteer status and patrol Ukrainian cities.